that he had only one shoe on, and on the other foot a
slipper. He went very near at a run up the lobby, and up a step or two,
and into the great antechamber and so round to the Bedchamber; and I
presently heard him enter it. Indeed I was very favourably placed for
observing all that went on.

* * * * *

It was about eleven o'clock, as I suppose, when I first heard His
Majesty's voice; and the relief of it to me was extraordinary.

I had ventured up the stair or two that led from this room into the
Bedchamber, and had, very delicately, opened the door a crack so as to
hear more plainly; but I dared not look through for fear that I should
be seen.

For a long while I had heard nothing but whispers; and once the yapping
of a little dog, very sharp and startling, but the noise was stifled
almost immediately, and the dog, I suppose, taken out at the other door.
Once or twice too had come the sudden chiming of all the clocks that
were in the Bedchamber.

I heard first a great groan from the bed, to which by now they had moved
him from the chair, and then Ailesbury's name spoken in a very broken
voice. (My own heart beat so loud when I heard that, that I could scarce
listen to what followed.)

"Yes, Sir," came Ailesbury's voice; and then a broken murmur again. (He
was thanking him, I heard afterwards from Mr. Chiffinch, for his
affection to him, and for having caused him to be bled so promptly by
Mr. King, and for having sent Chiffinch to him to bring him back from
his private closet.)

Presently he grew stronger; and I could hear what he said.

"I went there," he said, "for the King's Drops.... I felt very ailing
when I rose.... I walked about there; but felt no better. I nearly fell
from giddiness as I came down again."

He spoke very slowly, but strongly enough; and he gave a great sigh at
the end.

Presently he spoke again.

"Why, brother," he said. "So there you are."

I heard the Duke's voice answer him, but so brokenly and confusedly that
I could hear no words.

"No, no," said His Majesty, "I do very well now."

* * * * *

I came down the stairs again, shaking all over. I cannot say how
affected I was to hear his voice again; and I think there could scarce
be a man in the place any less affected. He was a man who compelled love
in an extraordinary fashion. I felt that if he died I could bear no more
at all.

I was walking up and down ag